What will Sutter say? Talking Martinez, goalies and fuel on Friday

It’s time for another round of the always awesome, sometimes confusing and rarely disappointing – What will Sutter say? Today’s edition of quotes came following the Kings practice at TSC. Well, quite a bit after because the coach wanted to shower before meeting with the media – as the team was preparing to head off to the airport and fly to Vancouver. So, here’s what a scrubbed and cleaned Sutter had to say…

– On Alec Martinez: “He was cleared after the game the other night. So, we could have had him back yesterday. The next step is game available…He’s cleared for contact. Remember the protocol. Injured reserve, he’s hurt, can’t play, cleared for contact, activated, available to play. Not much more than that.”

– On if the Kings now have two hot goaltenders: “I think they’re competing against each other to see who plays the next game. So that means, not necessarily hot, that means they’re playing well enough to win the next game.”

– On the importance of winning the first in a long string of games in March: “Well it’s just a one game trip. Then we come home for five. Then we go for, what? Two? Then we come home (again, then we go for three or four, right? Then we gotta combine Washington with it. So it’s a tough month. I’m not looking at it any more than tomorrow. We play four back-to-back sets and you just keep going four-six, four-six. It’s almost an impossible schedule.”

– On the last Vancouver game… : “We were down two-nothing, we tied two-two, and we won in a shootout.”

– On the Vancouver game being a while ago: “Not really. In the course of what we’ve played, how many games – 18? And it’s a dozen games ago. So it’s not that long ago.”

– On his ideal schedule for the a practices-to-games ratio: “It depends where you’re at. In the old days when I was in Chicago, they were on the original six schedule. So you played Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday; always, right?…So (this is) a different schedule; you’re travel’s different. Come out west; travel’s way different, right? So you’d prefer to have one day a week where it’s basically a recovery day if you could. And if not, then you’re traveling or playing. So there’s not an ideal. There’s not an ideal schedule. And to be honest; this is totally different. And then going forward with the unknown of conference or divisions, if this all comes to pass, all that’s going to be (looked at it) again. So, you have to reset, right? I don’t know what ideal is quite honestly. Because until you see it, you have to adjust to it, and you have to be able to – the biggest thing is adjusting players. That’s what it’s about, right? Guys that play minutes, guys that don’t. Trusting that their recovery is in the right order in terms of nutrition. It’s basically putting the fuel in the engine all the time.”

– On nutritional knowledge being better now than it was years ago: “I think probably as an overview; most of them are like that. But you guys are just as familiar with some of our young guys, guys that have struggled – before I was here and have struggled while I was here, and most of it is that. Hey, it’s the biggest issue I saw last year with our club. It didn’t have anything to do with other than not living in a hockey environment, and players have to adjust to that.”

– On a certain team sponsor (McDonald’s, whose logo was on the wall behind him): “I haven’t been to one of them since they cut off Alberta Beef, and that was quite a few years ago. I don’t even like standing beside it… Being cattle guys, the Mad Cow thing, they cut off Alberta Beef….and they cut off North American Beef. So, I don’t even like standing beside that.”

– On trying to control the player’s emotions given their hatred of the Canucks: “Whatever they said to you is good…Is it a hatred? Was that the word? (answered, yes) Good, well then talk to them, don’t talk to me. I haven’t said it so it doesn’t really come into me.”

– On the question not being about his words, but asking if it’s more challenging to control their emotions: “Hasn’t been in the past.”

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Comments

McDonalds doesn’t sponsor alberta beef but they sponsor the kings lol sutter is a conflicted man. Golden arches aside, I’m glad the goalies aren’t getting much breathing room. Its what made Quickie so good last year right?

He is talking about McDonalds not using ALberta Beef for their hamburgers, Not McDonalds Sponsoring them

Agreed, having them compete for the goalie position is a good way to get the best out of each one. PLus they both understand that they are equally as important, and they do not let their emotions get in the way of the team. They play hard and support each other.

Happy to see MARTINEZ is cleared.. for whatever Sutter wants him to do! (Since no one knows what Sutter is planning to do)… Judging from his video interview Martinez is glad to back “with the living”…HE’S HUNGRY!!!!
GOOD SIGNS!!!